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Old 07-30-2001, 08:48 PM   #1
Opie
Floresbian
Moderator
 
Member#: 470
Join Date: Oct 1999
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Riverview, Florida - U.S.A.
Vehicle:
2020 Canyon Denali
'21 Forester & '13 BRZ

Default State of Florida, Bradford County vs. Opie & SUV-ETR...this court is now in session..

As many of you know from my post back in May, myself and SUV-ETR received a Speeding Citation in The City of Lawtey of Hwy 301 in Florida. This city, as many Floridians know, has the most profitable (for the City) police speedtrap in the country and is well known for it's "extreme" ticketing schemes. Both myself and SUV-ETR received $330.00 citations for speeding in a school zone, something we were absolutely sure we were not doing.

Well today was our day in court.

After making the 150+ mile trip to the wnderful Bradford County courthouse we would have our chance to prove our innocense of the charges...something everyone told us was impossible and that we should just pay the fine and be done with it. Instead we have spent the last 3 days preparing questions and reviewing our notes and pictures from the stop in order to beat the odds and beat this ticket.

Obviously our hard work, preparedness and honesty paid off...after 45 minutes of testimony, most of which was SUV-ETR and myself dismantling the officers case, the judge dismissed all charges...no fine, no school, no court cost, nothing!

HOORAY!!!

I honestly didn't believe we would win, no matter how solid our defense I thought we would be railroaded into being found guilty. I feel like a tremendous burden has been lifted from me and thought I would share my experience with justice with everyone here.


Also I'll add a warning...if you drive a Silver 2.5RS similar to mine or SUV-ETR's I would recomend that you never, under any circumstances pass through this town. We obviously irritated the officer (It happened to be the Assistant Chief of Police for the City) and he made it known that our cars stand out. I firmly believe that if this officer were to see another car that was similar to ours he may make a point to pull it over and give the driver a hard time, regardless of if there was any traffic violations committed.

Please be careful out there.
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Old 07-30-2001, 08:55 PM   #2
ScoutWRX
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 7086
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Vehicle:
2002 WRX
Blue

Default Hooray!!!

The icon of the car on its side is a LAWTEY POLICE CAR on its side because you guys won against impossible odds!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! Congratulations guys on beating LAWTEY trash!

I can't wait to go back through there taunting them!

Scouts Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 07-30-2001, 09:17 PM   #3
Matt
Allergic to turbos
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Member#: 181
Join Date: Aug 1999
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: MAIC & Southeast
Default

Silly crackers.

Hehe.

Congrats.

Now I'm even more paranoid about the rallycross in Starke. How fast were you going when you drove through town?

I'm thinking about staying in Gainesville for the event--since they've got a Sheraton
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Old 07-30-2001, 09:20 PM   #4
smacksube
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Member#: 4067
Join Date: Feb 2001
Vehicle:
01 2.5 rs
silver

Default

congratulations on that win. I was on my way to this podunk podunk podunk town 30 minutes from jacksonville to pick up an engine and I was all prepared to go the speed limit from 301 through the rest of my trip, but I got tagged at 82 miles and hour on i-75 about 2 miles from the 301 exit. But I was tagged by an airplane so I didn't even know there was a speed trap or anything....totally retarded, 82 on the interstate isn't speeding, but at least the cop was nice.
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Old 07-30-2001, 09:29 PM   #5
Opie
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Member#: 470
Join Date: Oct 1999
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Riverview, Florida - U.S.A.
Vehicle:
2020 Canyon Denali
'21 Forester & '13 BRZ

Default

Matt - The speed through the town was 45MPH, but there is one intersection with a School Zone that drops to 20MPH when the sign is flashing. The sign was flashing when we got to the intersection but the light was red. We were slowing to a stop at the light, well below 20MPH when the light turned green, we then coasted through the school zone and then continued on our merry way. He pulled us over about a mile up the road with the BS about doing 41 through the school zone.

I'm getting a little paranoid about driving through Starke (It's in Bradford County too! ) for the rallycross. Maybe I'll rent a silver Crown Vic...they'll think I'm one of them

smacksube - That sucks, usually the FHP is pretty lenient. I did notice on the way home today they are using Motorcycles instead of patrol cars now...pretty sneaky.
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Old 07-30-2001, 09:40 PM   #6
remarcable
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Member#: 2362
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: South Carolina, USA
Vehicle:
1999 Legacy Outback
Blue w/ Paint Chips & Mud

Default

At least the florida HP don't use confiscated drug cars and unmarked camaros to patrol the interstates.

SCHP does, and they are nasty. South Carolina has decided the 70MPH speed limit was a mistake because everybody has been driving 80MPH and some idiot decided that is too fast.

So driving at 80MPH through south carolina is no longer safe to do, as state troopers will ticket you for 80 in a 70 on the interstate system.

We need speed limit free zones. Let the idiots kill themselves, natural selection. In the meantime I will be getting where I need to go in less time.
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Old 07-30-2001, 09:44 PM   #7
Matt
Allergic to turbos
Moderator
 
Member#: 181
Join Date: Aug 1999
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: MAIC & Southeast
Default

Maybe I'll just bring the Brat to compete.

They'll probably just give me a ticket for bad taste.

I've already got the map out...

Looking for a scenic detour, especially with my illegal tint.
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Old 07-30-2001, 09:50 PM   #8
Valien
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Member#: 8584
Join Date: Jul 2001
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Greer, SC
Vehicle:
2002 WRB WRX.
18 Pilot

Default hey remarcable..

i agree with you there. I live/work in g'ville off I-85/Pelham and I see the unmarked SCHP Camaros all the time.

Thing is, people still fly down I-85 though.

BTW, congrats Opie and SUV-ETR on your win!

~V
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Old 07-31-2001, 08:05 AM   #9
Dirt Man
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Member#: 176
Join Date: Aug 1999
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Tampa, Florida
Vehicle:
2011 Subaru Forester
Silver

Wink

Congrats guy's!! I guess Neal's next career after the consulting deal, is to become a defense attorney.
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Old 07-31-2001, 02:10 PM   #10
wrxwannabe
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Member#: 1178
Join Date: Mar 2000
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: West Columbia, SC
Vehicle:
2011 BMW 535i
Alpine White

Default

Congrats...

But yeah, it makes you nervous having to drive back through there...

Later

Eric

P.S. I won't be able to be at the fairgrounds, corded the Kumho's and It'll be a week before I get the new tires.
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Old 07-31-2001, 05:09 PM   #11
SUV-ETR
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Member#: 1310
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Apple Valley, MN
Vehicle:
2000 Impreza 2.5RS
BRP

Default

Thanks for the support, everyone. I don't want to bad-mouth the Lawtey Police (they're everywhere, ya know!), but I must say it makes me feel good to win when literally everyone we talked to said we didn't have a chance.

I think Opie and I have to make a little shameless plug for the NMA. If anyone else finds themselves in a similar situation, check out the National Motorists Association at http://www.motorists.org/. I think it's worth the $30 membership fee, and their "Legal Defense Kit" I rented was extremely helpful. I won't speak for Opie here, but I certainly don't think we would have won without the information, encouragement, and attitude-correction we got from the NMA.

Hehe, DirtMan, you don't know how correct you might be!

Eric, WTH? Drive on your street tires. Never stopped you before!

Neal
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Old 07-31-2001, 05:12 PM   #12
Opie
Floresbian
Moderator
 
Member#: 470
Join Date: Oct 1999
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Riverview, Florida - U.S.A.
Vehicle:
2020 Canyon Denali
'21 Forester & '13 BRZ

Talking

Yes, the NMA rules! Everyone should become a member...I know I will be joining without hesitation after the help they provided!
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Old 07-31-2001, 08:21 PM   #13
barkall4
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Member#: 6524
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Deltona, FL
Vehicle:
2001 GC6
Aspen White

Default wow guys!

Congradulations!!! You guys deserve a beer...or two...Man that's incredible! I've had horrendous times myself with Daytona Beach police, due to the old Sherrif's (Bob Vogel) pressuring officers into doing more racial profiling (I'm a 'rican so I got messed with everytime I went out there)

Hat's off to you for doing your homework, as most of us would just tuck our tails between our legs and pay the fine! Bet that judge didn't know what he had coming when you two walked in the court
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